The Pup Club

13/11/2023

"It won't happen to me" " Microchipping my pet is such a hassle" "Their collars are loose, it'll slip off" "You are being paranoid"

These are all things we hear when we talk about collarless living at home. But here's the thing it could and in my case, it did. We were part of the 26 000 collar-related incidents a year.

Imagine this: a regular evening with me and my three energetic doggos. They were up to their usual antics, playing around while I casually made a cup of tea. All three of them had their collars on, set to the loosest fitting for comfort - thinking if anything should happen it would slip right off. Just a typical, uneventful night.

Then, out of nowhere,I heard growling and squealing. I turned to see that my two dogs had somehow managed to get entangled in each other's collars. It happened so fast; one dog had the collar wrapped tight around her jaw, and the other was practically being choked. They had twisted around so much that I feared the worst – one of them was on the verge of serious harm.

In that moment, quick thinking was my only option. I had to cut the collars off without causing more injury and hope that neither dog would redirect bite while I worked. Star's only injury was a bruised jaw, and Blaze suffered some snipped fur. We were insanely lucky.

From that day on, we became a collarless household. The situation could have ended much worse – one dog could have suffered a broken jaw, and the other might have lost consciousness or worse. It underscored the importance of microchipping your pets to create a safe environment without the reliance on collars. It's a simple step that can prevent potentially tragic outcomes. 🐾💙

10/11/2023

Let's take a moment to reflect on the narrow lens through which we often view our realities. It's easy to get irritated by a neighbor's dog or parrot making noise, and our initial reaction might be to complain. But, here's a gentle reminder: we might only be seeing a fraction of their reality.

A thoughtful subscriber of ours put this into perspective for us—they shared an incident about their dog with separation anxiety howling while they were left to go to a job interview. A neighbor complained without realizing the circumstances. Moreover, they completely negated the extensive effort, training, and resources invested in addressing the dog's separation anxiety when they failed to communicate with the owner first before complaining. In reality, the dog was making progress and the subscriber had altered their entire life to better manage the situation. Had the neighbor approached the subscriber, it could have been an enlightening conversation, a chance to understand the challenges they face and the ongoing efforts to manage the situation (stay tuned for more insights on what goes into having a dog with separation anxiety.)

We get it – constant barking/howling/squawking etc can be maddening. But, before frustration takes over, let's remember to extend kindness to those striving to improve their pet's behavior. Have a dialogue, learn, and better understand before going head first to complain. This goes for all things not just pet peeves.

Thanks for joining our little TedTalk moment. 🌟🐾

10/11/2023

🐾 As handlers and guardians, we're all doing our best for companions🐶🐱 But guess what? Sometimes the info we've got is a bit off.

But that doesn't mean you are off the hook. The world of animal behavior is like a never-ending adventure, always evolving. So, instead of dwelling on past slip-ups and being paralyzed with "should've, could've, and would've", let's shift our focus. Ask questions, soak up knowledge, and make the next round even better.

Dogs are like the MVPs of resilience—they bounce back and love unconditionally, and with time and a good dose of understanding, most relationships can bounce back. It's all about learning and improving, that's way more productive than getting stuck in a guilt trap.

Feeling lost? No shame in reaching out for professional help. And remember, every interaction with your fur babies calls for a sprinkle of kindness and understanding. Don't forget to give yourself a little pet on the back too! 🌟🐾

31/10/2023

Happy Halloween Halloweenie, from all of us cool cats and dogs !

16/09/2023

Remember, there is no time like the present to spoil your puppers and fluffers!

Enjoy your weekend!

14/09/2023

If you ever needed an excuse (not that you ever did, did you?) to take photos of your furkids here are three!

Our furry friends stick by our side day and night. So it makes sense to click a few photos. But it's important to take regular photos outside the big stretch moments.

14/06/2023

11/08/2022